Actualités autour de la prise en charge des diabètes insipides centraux

Idiopathic central diabetes insipidus in an extreme premature infant: A case report

CONTEXT

Central diabetes insipidus (CDI) is a rare disease during the neonatal period, making it diagnosis difficult and delaying medical treatment.

CASE REPORT

We report here a case of a premature infant born at 26 weeks gestation who, during his 1st month of life, presented persistent hypernatremia with polyuria despite increased fluid supply and low sodium intake. CDI diagnosis was suspected and then confirmed by the therapeutic test with vasopressin analog, in its oral form. Electrolyte disorders were normalized after treatment, which allowed normal weight and height growth with standard fluid supply. Biological and radiological tests were all normal; this CDI was considered idiopathic.

CONCLUSION

Persistent hypernatremia with excessive diuresis should alert to CDI diagnosis.

[Thickening of the pituitary stalk in children and adolescents with central diabetes insipidus: Causes and consequences]

BACKGROUND

Central diabetes insipidus (CDI) is a rare disorder in children. The aetiology of CDI in childhood is heterogeneous. The aim of this study is to illustrate the importance of a careful clinical and neuro-radiological follow-up of the pituitary and hypothalamus region in order to identify the aetiology and the development of associated hormonal deficiencies.

METHODS

Clinical and auxological variables of 15 children diagnosed with CDI were retrospectively analysed in a paediatric hospital. Evaluations of adenohypophyseal function and cranial MRI were performed periodically.

RESULTS

The mean age at diagnosis of CDI was 9.6 years (range: 1.32-15.9). The aetiological diagnosis could be established initially in 9 of the 15 patients, as 7 with a germinoma and 2 with a histiocytosis. After a mean follow-up of 5.5 years (range: 1.6-11.8), the number of idiopathic cases was reduced by half. At the end of the follow-up, the aetiological diagnoses were: 9 germinoma (60%), 3 histiocytosis (20%), and 3 idiopathic CDI (20%). There is a statistically significant association between stalk thickening and tumour aetiology. At least one adenohypophyseal hormonal deficiency was found in 67% of cases, with the majority developing in the first two years of follow-up. Growth hormone deficiency (60%) was the most prevalent.

CONCLUSION

The follow-up of CDI should include hormone evaluation with special attention, due to its frequency, to GH deficiency. In addition, a biannual MRI in an idiopathic CDI should be performed, at least during the first 2-3 years after diagnosis, as 50% of them were diagnosed with a germinoma or histiocytosis during this period.